Talanoa ki he Moʻuí

ʻOku Fakapaleʻi Maʻu Pē ʻe Sihova ʻa ʻEne Faʻahinga Mateakí

FAKAMATALA FAI ʻE VERNON DUNCOMBE

Naʻe ʻosi ʻeku kai maʻamaʻa ʻi he efiafi poʻulí pea hangē ko ia ʻoku ou angaʻakí naʻá ku tutu ha foʻi sikaleti. Naʻá ku ʻeke ange leva ki hoku uaifí, ko Aileen: “Naʻe fēfē ʻa e fakatahá ʻi he pō ní?”

NAʻÁ NE kiʻi longo peá ne pehē mai: “Naʻe lau ha tohi ʻo fanongonongo ai ʻa e kau fakanofo foʻou, pea ko ho hingoá naʻe kau ai. Naʻe fakanofo koe ke ke tokangaʻi ʻa e naunau fakaleʻolahí. Ko e sētesi fakamuimui ʻi he tohí naʻe pehē ai: ‘Kapau ʻoku ʻi ai ha taha ʻi he fanga tokoua kuo toki fakanofo foʻou ko ʻení ʻoku nau ifi tapaka, ʻoku nau moʻuaʻaki ke tohi ki he Sōsaietí ʻo fakahaaʻi ai heʻikai malava ke nau tali ʻa honau vāhenga-ngāué.’”a Naʻá ku tali ʻaki ha fakaʻaulolongo mo papau, “Sa-a-i! Ko ia, ko e meʻa ia naʻe leaʻaki aí.”

Naʻá ku ʻūtaki hoku nifó pea tāmateʻi ʻa e foʻi sikaleti ko iá ʻi he tūtūʻanga-efuefu ʻi hoku tafaʻakí. “ʻOku ʻikai te u ʻiloʻi pe ko e hā hono ʻuhinga naʻe fili ai au ki he tuʻunga ko ʻení. Ka ʻoku teʻeki ai ʻaupito ke u fakafisingaʻi ha taha, pea ʻoku ʻikai te u fakakaukau ke kamata.” Naʻá ku fakapapauʻi heʻikai ʻaupito te u toe ifi tapaka. Naʻe tākiekina loloto ʻe he fili ko iá ʻeku moʻui ʻi he tuʻunga ko ha Kalisitiané pea mo hoku tuʻunga ko ha tokotaha mūsiká. Tuku ke u talanoa atu kiate kimoutolu ʻa e ngaahi meʻa ʻe niʻihi naʻe iku atu ai ki heʻeku fakapapaú.

Moʻui Fakafāmili ki Muʻá

Naʻe fanauʻi au ʻi Toronto, Kānata, ʻi Sepitema 21, 1914, ko e foha lahi taha au ʻo ha ongo mātuʻa ʻofa mo ngāue mālohi, ko Vernon mo Lila, ʻa ia naʻá na tokonaki maʻa ha fāmili ko e tamaiki tangata ʻe toko fā mo e ongo tamaiki fefine ʻe toko ua. Ko e hoko hake ʻiate aú ko Yorke, pea hoko ai ʻa Orlando, Douglas, Aileen, pea mo Coral. ʻI he taimi naʻá ku kei taʻu hiva pē aí, naʻe ʻomai ʻe heʻeku faʻeé kiate au ha vaiolini peá ne fokotuʻutuʻu kiate au ke u ako ha ngaahi lēsoni mūsika ʻi he Akoʻanga Mūsika ko Harris. Naʻe ʻikai ke faingofua ʻa e ngaahi meʻá, ka naʻe maʻu pē ʻe heʻeku fineʻeikí mo ʻeku tangataʻeikí ha ngaahi founga ke totongi ʻaki ʻeku heka meʻalelé mo ʻeku ako ʻi he ʻapiakó. Ki mui mai, naʻá ku ako ai ki he tefitoʻi moʻoni fakalūkufua mo e ngaahi faʻunga ʻo e mūsiká ʻi he Akoʻanga Fakatuʻi ʻo e Mūsiká ʻi Toronto, pea ʻi heʻeku taʻu 12, naʻá ku kau ai ki ha feʻauhi fakakolo tautau tokotaha ʻi he Holo Massey, ko ha holo faiʻanga mūsika ʻiloa ia ʻi he loto-koló. Naʻe filiʻi au ko e tokotaha ikuná pea foaki mai mo ha vaiolini lelei ʻi ha kato kiliʻi-ʻalakeita.

ʻI he faai mai ʻa e taimí, naʻá ku toe ako ai ki he tā pianó mo e vaiolini-pēsí. Ko ha kulupu ʻo kimautolu naʻa mau tā ʻi ha ngaahi paati iiki ʻi he ngaahi efiafi Falaité mo e Tokonakí pea ʻi he ngaahi hulohula fakaakó. Ko e taha ʻo e ngaahi hulohula pehení naʻá ku fuofua fetaulaki ai mo Aileen. ʻI he lolotonga ʻo hoku taʻu fakaʻosi ʻi he akoʻanga māʻolungá, naʻá ku tā ai mo ha ngaahi tā-meʻalea lahi ʻi he koló. ʻI he hili ʻeku maʻu tohi fakamoʻoni akó naʻe fakaafeʻi ai au ke u kau ki he Tā-Meʻalea Ferde Mowry, pea naʻe hoko ia ko ha ngāue totongi lelei, mo tuʻumaʻu ʻo aʻu mai ki he 1943.

Hoko ʻo ʻIloʻi ʻa Sihová

Naʻe fuofua ʻilo ʻe heʻeku ongo mātuʻá ʻa e moʻoni ʻo e Tohitapú ki muʻa pē ʻi he mapuna hake ʻa e Tau I ʻa Māmaní, ʻi he taimi naʻe ngāue ai ʻeku Tamaí ko ha tokotaha fakaʻaliʻali koloa ki ha falekoloa fakapuleʻanga ʻi he loto-kolo ʻo Toronto. ʻI he loki kai hoʻataá, naʻá ne fanongo ai ki ha ngaahi fetalanoaʻaki ʻi he vahaʻa ʻo ha ongo meʻa ngāue kehe ʻe toko ua ʻa ia ko e ongo Ako Tohitapu (ʻo hangē ko ia naʻe uiʻaki ʻa e Kau Fakamoʻoni ʻa Sihová he taimi ko iá), pea naʻá ne vahevahe ʻa e meʻa naʻá ne fanongo ki aí mo e fineʻeikí ʻi he taimi naʻá ne foki ai ki ʻapi ʻi he efiafí. ʻI he ngaahi taʻu ʻe niʻihi ki mui mai, ʻi he 1927, naʻe fai ai ʻe he Kau Ako Tohitapú ha fakataha-lahi ʻiloa ʻi Toronto ʻi he Sitētiume he Malaʻe Fakaʻaliʻali Fakafonua ʻo Kānatá. Ko homau falé, ko e poloka ʻe ua ia mei he hūʻanga fakahihifo ki he malaʻé, naʻe ngāueʻaki ia ke nofo ai ʻa e kakai ʻe toko 25 mei Ohio, U.S.A.

ʻI he hili iá, ko e taha ʻo e Kau Ako Tohitapú, ko Ada Bletsoe, naʻá ne kamata ke toutou ʻaʻahi mai ki he fineʻeikí, ʻo ʻoange kiate ia ʻa e ngaahi tohi fakamuimui tahá. ʻI he ʻaho ʻe taha naʻá ne pehē ange ai: “Mrs. Duncombe, naʻá ku faʻa tuku ʻiate koe ha tohi ʻi he taimi ʻe niʻihi. Kuó ke lau ha taha ʻo kinautolu?” Neongo ʻa hono tauhi hake ʻo e fānau ʻe toko onó, naʻe fakapapauʻi ʻe he Fineʻeikí ke kamata ʻa hono lau ʻo e ngaahi makasiní mei he taimi ko iá ʻo faai mai, pea naʻe ʻikai ʻaupito te ne taʻofi. Kae kehe, naʻe siʻi ʻa ʻeku tokanga ki he ngaahi tohí. Naʻá ku feinga ke maʻu ha tohi fakamoʻoni ako mei he akoʻangá, pea naʻá ku kau lahi ki he mūsiká.

ʻI Sune 1935, naʻá ku mali ai mo Aileen ʻi ha siasi faka-ʻIngilani. Talu mei heʻeku liʻaki ʻa e Siasi Fakatahatahá ʻi heʻeku taʻu 13, naʻe ʻikai pē haʻaku toe fekauʻaki mo ha tuʻunga fakalotu kehe; ko ia naʻá ku fakamoʻoni ai ʻi he lēsisita malí ko ha taha au ʻo e Kau Fakamoʻoni ʻa Sihová, neongo naʻe teʻeki ai te u hoko ko ha Fakamoʻoni.

Naʻá ma fakatuʻotuʻa atu ke tauhi hake ha fāmili ʻi ha taimi he kahaʻú pea mo e holi ke hoko ko ha ongo mātuʻa lelei. Ko ia, naʻá ma kamata ke lau fakataha ʻa e Fuakava Foʻoú. Kae kehe, neongo ʻa ʻema ngaahi taumuʻa leleí, naʻe ʻi ai ʻa e ngaahi meʻa kehe naʻe fakatupu hohaʻa. Naʻá ma toe feinga ke lau fakataha ʻi ha taimi siʻi ki mui ai kae kei ola tatau ai pē. Pea ʻi he Kilisimasi ʻi he 1935, naʻá ma maʻu ai ha kofukofu-meʻaʻofa ko e tohi naʻe fakakaveinga ko e The Harp of God. Naʻe pehē ʻe hoku uaifí: “Seuke, ko ha toki meʻaʻofa Kilisimasi faikehe ʻeni ʻa ia naʻe ʻomai kiate kitaua ʻe hoʻo faʻeé.” Ka neongo ia, ʻi he hili ʻeku ʻalu ki he ngāué, naʻá ne kamata ke lau ia, pea naʻá ne saiʻia he meʻa naʻá ne laú. ʻI ha kiʻi vahaʻa taimi, naʻe ʻikai te u ʻilo ha meʻa fekauʻaki mo ʻene mahuʻingaʻia ʻi he tohi ko iá. ʻI he fekauʻaki mo ʻema ngaahi ʻamanaki fakafāmilí, naʻe ʻikai ke fakahoko ia. Ko ʻema pēpē fefiné, naʻe fāʻeleʻi ʻi Fepueli 1, 1937, naʻe ʻikai ke moʻui. Ko ha loto-mamahi lahi ē ka ko kimaua!

ʻI he lolotonga ʻo e taimi ko ʻení, naʻe kau longomoʻui hoku fāmilí ki he ngāue fakamalangá, pea naʻá ku ʻilo ko e tangataʻeikí pē ʻa e tokotaha malanga ʻo e Puleʻangá ʻi he fāmilí naʻe teʻeki ai ke ne tuku ha tukuhau ki he makasini Consolation (ko e Awake! ia he taimi ní). Ko e taumuʻa ngāue fakamalanga ia ki he māhiná. Neongo naʻe teʻeki ai ke u lau ha taha ʻo e ngaahi tohi ʻa e Sōsaietí, naʻá ku ongoʻi fakaʻofaʻia ʻiate ia pea naʻá ku pehē ange: “Sai, Teti, hanga ʻo ʻai haʻaku tukuhau; pea te ke hoko ai ʻo tatau mo e niʻihi kehé.” ʻI he hoko mai ʻa e taimi māfaná, pea naʻe hiki atu ʻa e tā-meʻaleá mei he koló ke tā ʻi ha feituʻu faiʻanga ʻeveʻeva. Naʻe haʻu ʻa e Consolation ʻi he meilí. Naʻe hoko mai ʻa e faʻahitaʻu fakatōlaú, pea naʻe foki ʻa e tā-meʻaleá ki Toronto. Naʻe hokohoko haʻu ʻa e ngaahi makasiní ki heʻema tuʻasila meili foʻoú, pea naʻe ʻikai te u toʻo ha taha ʻo kinautolu mei hono kofukofú.

ʻI he lolotonga ʻo ha mālōlō Kilisimasi ʻe taha, naʻá ku sio ai ki he fokotuʻunga makasiní peá u fakaʻosiʻaki ʻo pehē kapau naʻá ku totongi ʻa e ngaahi meʻá ni, ʻoku totonu ke u lau ha niʻihi ʻo kinautolu ke sio pe ko e hā ʻoku nau leaʻakí. Ko e fuofua makasini naʻá ku fakaavá naʻe fakaʻohovale kiate au. Naʻe fakaeʻa ai ʻa e kākā fakapolitikalé pea mo e tuʻunga fakameleʻi ʻo e taimi ko iá. Naʻá ku kamata ke talanoa ki hoku kaungā mūsiká fekauʻaki mo e meʻa naʻá ku laú. Kae kehe, naʻa nau fehuʻia ʻa e moʻoni ʻo e meʻa naʻá ku leaʻakí, pea naʻá ku hanganaki lautohi koeʻuhí ke u taukapoʻi ʻaki au. ʻI he taʻeʻiló, naʻá ku kamata ai ke fakamoʻoni fekauʻaki mo Sihova. Pea talu mei he taimi ko iá, naʻe ʻikai ʻaupito tuku ʻeku lau ʻa e ngaahi tohi faka-Tohitapu fakaofo ʻa e “tamaioeiki agatonu mo boto.”​—Mātiu 24:​45, PM.

Neongo naʻe fakafemoʻuekinaʻi au ʻe he ngāué he lolotonga ʻo e uiké, naʻe vave ʻeku maʻu ʻa e ngaahi fakataha ʻi he Sāpaté fakataha mo Aileen. ʻI heʻema aʻu atu ki he fakatahá ʻi he Sāpate ʻe taha ʻi he 1938, naʻe fakafeʻiloaki mai ha ongo tuofefine taʻumotuʻa kiate kimaua, pea pehē mai ʻe he toko taha: “Tokoua kei talavou, kuó ke tuʻu maʻa Sihova? ʻOkú ke ʻilo, ko ʻĀmaketoné ʻoku ofi mai ʻaupito!” Naʻá ku ʻiloʻi ko Sihova ko e ʻOtua moʻoní pē ia, pea naʻá ku tuipau ko ʻene kautahá ʻeni. Naʻá ku fiemaʻu ke u hoko ko e konga ʻo ia, ko ia ʻi ʻOkatopa 15, 1938, naʻá ku papitaiso ai. Naʻe papitaiso ʻa Aileen ʻi he māhina nai ʻe ono ki mui ai. ʻOku ou fiefia ke leaʻaki naʻe hoko ʻa e tokotaha kotoa ʻi hoku fāmilí ko e kau sevāniti fakatapui ʻa Sihova.

Ko ha fiefia ē naʻá ku maʻú ʻi he feohi mo e kakai ʻa e ʻOtuá! Naʻe vave ʻa ʻeku ongoʻi lata ʻi he lotolotonga ʻo kinautolú. ʻI he taimi naʻe ʻikai malava ai ke u maʻu fakatahá, naʻá ku vēkeveke maʻu pē ke ʻilo ʻa e meʻa naʻe hoko ʻi he ngaahi fakatahá. Ko e efiafi makehe naʻe lave ki ai ʻi he kamatá naʻe fakamoʻoniʻi ʻene hoko ko ha liliu mahuʻinga ia ʻi heʻeku ngāue kia Sihová.

Ko ha Taimi ʻo e Liliu Lahi Kiate Kimaua

Naʻe hoko ha feʻunuʻaki mahuʻinga ʻe taha kiate kimaua ʻi Mē 1, 1943. Naʻá ma maʻu ai ʻa e ʻuluaki fakataha-lahí, ko e ʻAsemipilī Fakateokalati ʻo e Māmani Foʻoú ʻi Sepitema 1942 ʻi Cleveland, Ohio. ʻI aí, ʻi he uhouhonga tonu ʻo ha tau fakalilifu ʻa e māmaní, ko ha tau ʻe ʻikai hano ngataʻanga ʻi he vakai atu ki aí, naʻá ma fanongo ai kia Tokoua Knorr, ko e palesiteni ia ʻo e Sōsaieti Taua Leʻó he taimi ko iá, naʻá ne fakahoko loto-toʻa ha malanga fakatupu tokanga maʻá e kakaí, ko e “Melinó​—ʻE Lava ke Tuʻuloa Ia?” ʻOkú ma manatuʻi lelei ʻa e founga naʻá ne fakahaaʻi ai, mei he Fakahā vahe 17 ʻo pehē, ʻe ʻi ai ha vahaʻa taimi ʻo e melino ʻi he hili ʻa e taú ʻa ia ʻe fakahoko ai ha ngāue fakamalanga lahi.

Ko e meʻa naʻe maongo lahi taha kiate kimauá ko ha malanga ki muʻa atu ʻa Tokoua Knorr, ko “Sēfita mo ʻEne Tukumoʻuí.” Naʻe fai leva ai ʻa e kole ki ha kau tāimuʻa tokolahi ange! Ko Aileen mo au naʻá ma fesiofaki peá ma pehē fakataha (mo ha tokolahi kehe ʻi he taimi tatau): “Ko kimautolu ia!” Naʻá ma kamata leva ke fai ha ngaahi palani ke hoko atu ki ha ngāue mahuʻinga lahi ange.

Naʻe hoko hano tapui ʻo e ngāue ʻa e Kau Fakamoʻoni ʻa Sihová ʻi Kānata talu mei Siulai 4, 1940. ʻI he taimi naʻá ma kamata ngāue tāimuʻa ai ʻi Mē 1, 1943, naʻe kei taʻefakalao ai ke faifakamoʻoni fekauʻaki mo Sihova pea ke tuʻuaki ha ngaahi tohi ʻa e Sōsaietí ʻi he ngāue fakamalangá. ʻI he ngāue ʻi he tuʻunga ko e ongo Kalisitiané, naʻá ma toʻotoʻo pē ʻa ʻema ongo tatau tāutaha ʻo e liliu King James ʻo e Tohitapú. ʻI ha ngaahi ʻaho hili pē ʻa e aʻu ki heʻema ʻuluaki vāhenga-ngāue tāimuʻá ʻi Parry Sound, Ontario, ko Stewart Mann, ko ha tāimuʻa taukei ia, naʻe vaheʻi mai ʻe he ʻōfisi vaʻá ke ngāue ʻi he malaʻe malangá fakataha mo kimaua. He tokonaki anga-ʻofa moʻoni ē! Naʻe maʻu ʻe Tokoua Mann ha ʻulungaanga fiefia pea mo ha fofonga malimali. Naʻá ma ako meiate ia pea naʻá ma maʻu ha taimi fakafiefia. Naʻá ma fakahoko ha ngaahi ako Tohitapu lahi ʻi he taimi naʻe toe vaheʻi ai kimaua ʻe he Sōsaietí ki he kolo lahi ko Hamilton. ʻIkai ke fuoloa mei ai, neongo ʻa ʻeku fuʻu motuʻa ki he ngāue fakakautaú, naʻe ui au ki he ngāue fakakautaú. Ko ʻeku fakafisi ke kau ki he kau taú naʻe hoko ai ʻo puke pōpula au ʻi Tīsema 31, 1943. ʻI he hili ʻa hono fai ʻo e ngaahi ngāue fakaefakamāuʻangá, naʻe tautea ai au ʻo ʻave ki ha kemi ngāue ki he kakai siviliané, ʻa ia naʻá ku nofo ai pē ʻo aʻu ki ʻAokosi 1945.

ʻI hoku tukuangé pē naʻá ku maʻu leva mo Aileen ha vāhenga-ngāue tāimuʻa ʻa ia naʻe ʻave ai kimaua ki Cornwall, Ontario. Taimi nounou pē mei ai, naʻá ma ʻalu ki Quebec ʻi ha ngāue fakaefakamaauʻanga polisi makehe mei he Potungāue Fakalao ʻa e Sōsaietí. Ko e lolotonga ʻeni ʻo e kuonga Duplessis ʻi Quebec, ʻi he taimi naʻe mālohi makehe ʻaupito ai ʻa e fakatangaʻi ʻo e Kau Fakamoʻoni ʻa Sihová. Ko e ngaahi ʻaho lahi ʻi he uike taki taha, naʻá ku ʻi he ngaahi fakamaauʻanga kehekehe ʻe fā ʻo tokoni ki hotau fanga tokouá. Naʻe fakafiefia mo fakatui-mālohi ʻa e ngaahi taimi ko iá.

ʻI he hili ʻa e fakataha-lahi ʻi Cleveland ʻi he 1946, naʻe hoko mai ʻa e vāhenga-ngāue ki he ngāue fakafeituʻu mo fakavahé ʻa ia naʻe ʻave ai hoku uaifí mo au mei he matāfonua ki he matāfonua. Naʻe hoko vave ʻa e ngaahi meʻá. ʻI he 1948 naʻe fakaafeʻi ai kimaua ki he kalasi hono 11 ʻo e Akoʻanga Tohitapu Taua Leʻo ʻo Kiliatí. Ko Tokoua Albert Schroeder mo Maxwell Friend ko e ongo toko ua ia ʻi heʻemau kau faiakó, pea ko ʻemau kalasi ʻo e kau ako ʻe toko 108 naʻe kau ai ʻa e kau pani ʻe toko 40. ʻI he fuʻu tokolahi ʻa e kau sevāniti ngāue fuoloa ʻa Sihova naʻa nau ʻi aí, ko ha meʻa fakakoloa mo fakafiemālie moʻoni ē naʻa mau hokosiá!

ʻI he ʻaho ʻe taha naʻe ʻaʻahi mai ai kiate kimautolu ʻa Tokoua Knorr mei Brooklyn. ʻI heʻene malangá, naʻá ne kole ki ha kau pole ʻe toko 25 ke nau ako ki he lea faka-Siapaní. Naʻe pole ki ai ʻa e kotoa ʻo e toko 108! Naʻe toe leva ki he ngāue ʻa e palesitení ke ne fili pe ko hai ʻe akoʻí. ʻOku ou fakakaukau naʻe tataki ʻe Sihova ʻa e fili naʻe faí koeʻuhí he naʻe ola lelei ʻaupito. Ko e toko 25 ʻo e tokolahi naʻe filí, pea ki mui mai aí naʻa nau maʻu ʻa e monū ke kamata ʻa e ngāue ʻi Siapaní ʻoku nau kei ʻi heʻenau vāhenga-ngāué​—ʻoku nau taʻumotuʻa, ʻio, ka, ʻoku nau kei ʻi ai. Ko e niʻihi, hangē ko Lloyd mo Melba Barry, naʻá na hiki ki ha ngaahi vāhenga-ngāue kehe. Ko Lloyd ko ha mēmipa ia ʻo e Kulupu Pulé ʻo aʻu mai ki heʻene maté ʻi he taʻu kuo ʻosí. ʻOku mau fiefia fakataha mo e kotoa ʻo kinautolú ʻi he pale kuo foaki ʻe Sihová.

Naʻe hoko mai leva ʻa e ʻaho ʻo e maʻu tohi fakamoʻoni akó, pea naʻe vaheʻi kimaua ki Samaika. Kae kehe, koeʻuhi ko e hokohoko atu ʻo e ngaahi ʻaho fakaefakamaau ʻi Quebec, naʻe fakahā mai ai kiate kimaua ke ma toe foki ki Kānata.

Toe Lahi Ange ʻa e Mūsiká!

Neongo naʻá ku tukuange ʻa e mūsiká koeʻuhí ko e ngāue tāimuʻá, ʻoku hangehangē naʻe ʻikai ke tukuange au ʻe he mūsiká. ʻI he taʻu hoko maí naʻe haʻu ai ʻa e palesiteni ʻo e Sōsaietí, ʻa Nathan Knorr, pea mo ʻene sekelitalí, ʻa Milton Henschel, ki Maple Leaf Gardens ʻi Toronto. Ko e malanga maʻá e kakaí ʻa Tokoua Knorr naʻe fakakaveinga “ʻOku ʻI Mui Ia ʻi Hoʻo Fakakaukaú!” naʻe mātuʻaki fakaʻohovale ki he tokotaha kotoa pē. Ko e ʻuluaki taimi ʻeni naʻe fakaafeʻi ai au ke u tokangaʻi ʻa e kau tā-meʻalea ʻo e fakataha-lahí. Naʻa mau teuteu ʻa e ngaahi fasi fakauōlosi ki he ngaahi hiva manakoa ʻe niʻihi ʻi he Kingdom Service Song Book (1944). Naʻe hā naʻe saiʻia ai ʻa e fanga tokouá. ʻI he taimi naʻe ʻosi ai ʻa e polokalama ʻi he efiafi Tokonakí, naʻa mau ʻahiʻahiʻi leva ʻemau polokalama naʻe ʻosi fokotuʻutuʻu ki he Sāpaté. Naʻá ku hila atu kia Tokoua Henschel ʻoku kolosi mai ʻi he loto-malaʻé ʻo hangatonu mai kiate kimautolu, pea naʻá ku taʻofi ʻa e tā-meʻá koeʻuhi kau ʻalu ʻo feʻiloaki mo ia. Naʻá ne ʻeke mai, “Ko e kau hiva ʻe toko fiha ʻokú ke maʻu ʻi hoʻo kau tā-meʻalea ʻi hení?” “ʻI he taimi ʻoku nau ʻi heni kotoa aí, ko e toko 35 nai,” ko ʻeku talí ia. “Sai, te ke maʻu ʻo liunga ua ʻa e tokolahi ko iá ʻi Niu ʻIoke ʻi he faʻahitaʻu māfana hono hokó,” ko ʻene talí mai ia.

Ka, ki muʻa ke hoko mai ʻa e faʻahitaʻu māfana ko iá, naʻe fakaafeʻi au ki Brooklyn. Koeʻuhi ko e ngaahi tuʻungá, naʻe ʻikai malava ai ʻa Aileen he ʻuluaki taimí ke ʻalu mo au. Ko e langa foʻou ʻi he 124 Columbia Heights naʻe teʻeki ke ʻosi, ko ia naʻe vaheʻi mai ai kiate au ha mohenga ʻi he ʻuluaki ʻapi Pētelí, ʻi ha loki siʻisiʻi fakataha mo e ongo tokoua pani​—ko ha Tokoua taʻumotuʻa ko Payne mo Karl Klein, ʻa ia ko ʻeku toki fuofua feʻiloaki ʻeni mo kinauá. Naʻe ʻefiʻefi? ʻIo. Ka neongo ia, naʻa mau fetaulaki lelei ʻaupito pē. Ko e ongo tokoua taʻumotuʻá naʻá na kātaki fuoloa mo faʻa ʻūkuma. Naʻá ku feinga pē ke ʻoua te u hoko ko ha fakafaingataʻaʻiaʻanga! Ko ha lēsoni lelei ia ʻi he meʻa ʻoku lava ke fakahoko ʻe he laumālie ʻo e ʻOtuá. Ko ʻeku feʻiloaki mo ʻeku ngāue mo Tokoua Klein naʻá ne ʻomai kiate au ʻa e ngaahi tāpuaki lahi! Naʻá ne anga-ʻofa mo tokoni maʻu pē. Naʻá ma ngāue lelei fakataha peá ma kaungāmeʻa ofi ai pē ʻo laka hake ʻi he taʻu ʻe 50.

Ko hoku monū ia ke tokoni ki he mūsika ʻi he ngaahi fakataha-lahi ʻi he Yankee Stadium ʻi he 1950, 1953, mo e 1958, pea pehē ki he vahevahe ʻo e ngaahi fatongia fakaemūsika mo Al Kavelin ʻi he fakataha-lahi ʻi he 1963 naʻe fai ʻi he Rose Bowl ʻi Pasadena, Kalefōnia. Lolotonga ʻo e fakataha-lahi ʻi he Yankee Stadium ʻi he 1953, naʻe fai ha polokalama mūsika ʻi he Sāpaté ki muʻa ʻi he malanga maʻá e kakaí. Naʻe fakafeʻiloaki mai ai ʻe Erich Frost ʻa Edith Shemionik (ki mui mai ko Weigand), ko e tokotaha solo, ʻa ia naʻá ne hivaʻi ʻene faʻu ko e “Laka ki Muʻa, ʻa Kimoutolu Kau Fakamoʻoní!” ke kau mai ki heʻemau tā-meʻaleá. Pea naʻa mau mālieʻia ʻaupito ʻi heʻemau fanongo, ʻi he ʻuluaki taimí, ki he ngaahi leʻo-lelei mo fakaʻofoʻofa ʻo hotau fanga tokoua mo e fanga tuofāfine ʻAfiliká. Naʻe ʻomai ʻe he misinale ko Harry Arnott ha kāsete lelei naʻe hiki mei Rhodesia (ko Semipia ia he taimi ní) ʻo mau fanongo fiefia ai. Naʻe kāpui ʻa e sitētiumé fakakātoa ʻe he ongo ʻo e hivá.

Ko Hono Hiki ʻo e Tohi Hiva 1966

ʻOkú ke manatuʻi ʻa e tohi hiva takafi pingikī ngingila, ko e “Singing and Accompanying Yourselves With Music in Your Hearts”? ʻI he taimi naʻe ofi ʻosi ai hono teuteuʻi ʻení, naʻe pehē ʻe Tokoua Knorr: “Te tau fai hano hiki ʻe niʻihi. ʻOku ou fiemaʻu ke ke fokotuʻutuʻu ha kau tā-meʻalea tokosiʻi, ko ha ngaahi vaiolini siʻi pē pea mo ha fuluta ʻe ua. ʻOku ʻikai te u fiemaʻu ha taha ke ne ‘ifiʻi ʻene hoaní’!” Ko e Fale Fakatahaʻanga ʻi he Pētelí naʻe teu ke hoko ko homau feituʻu hikiʻangá, ka naʻe ʻi ai ha hohaʻa ʻo fekauʻaki mo hono ngāueʻaki iá. Ko e hā ʻe hoko ʻi ha toe ongo mai ʻa e leʻó ʻi he ngaahi hōlisi ʻatāloá, ngaahi faliki tailá, mo e ngaahi sea mētale ʻoku pelú? Ko hai ʻe malava ke ne tokoniʻi kimautolu ke fakaleleiʻi ʻa e ngaahi palopalema fakaeongo ʻoku taʻefakafiemālié? Naʻe fokotuʻu mai ʻe ha tokotaha: “Ko Tommy Mitchell! ʻOkú ne ngāue ʻi he Fale Fakamafola Lea Neti Fehokotakiʻanga ʻa e ABC.” Naʻa mau fetuʻutaki mo Tokoua Mitchell, ʻa ia naʻá ne fiefia ke tokoni.

Naʻe hoko mai ʻa e ʻuluaki pongipongi Tokonaki ke fai ai ʻa e hikí, pea ʻi hono fakafeʻiloaki mai ʻa e kau tā-meʻaleá, ko e tokotaha ʻi he fanga tokouá naʻe ʻi ai haʻane kato talamapone. Naʻá ku manatuʻi leva ʻa e fakatokanga ʻa Tokoua Knorr: “ʻOku ʻikai te u fiemaʻu ha taha pē ke ne ‘ifiʻi ʻene hoaní’!” ʻI he taimi ní, ko e hā ʻe lava ke u faí? Naʻá ku sio pē ʻi he toʻo hake ʻe he tokouá ʻene talamaponé mei he kató, fokotuʻu hono meʻa-tohó ki hono tuʻuʻangá, peá ne kamata ke ʻahiʻahiʻi. Ko e tokouá ko Tom Mitchell, pea ko ʻene ʻuluaki ngaahi notá naʻe fakaʻofoʻofa. Naʻá ne ifiʻi ʻa e talamaponé ʻo ongo hangē ha vaioliní! Naʻá ku fakakaukau, ‘kuo pau ke nofo ʻa e tokoua ko ʻení!’ Naʻe ʻikai ʻaupito ke taʻofi ia ʻe Tokoua Knorr.

ʻI he tā-meʻalea ko iá, naʻa mau maʻu ai ha kulupu ʻo e kau tā-meʻalea lelei ʻa ia ko e fanga tokoua mo e fanga tuofāfine anga-ʻofa foki. Naʻe ʻikai ha faʻahinga mamahi ngofua ai! Ko e hikí ko ha ngāue lahi, ka naʻe ʻikai ha ngaahi lāunga. ʻI he taimi naʻe ʻosi ai ʻa e ngāué, naʻe ʻi ai ʻa e ngaahi tō-loʻimata; pea mo ha laumālie ʻo e feohi lelei mālohi naʻe nofoʻia ʻi he lotolotonga ʻo e faʻahinga naʻe kau ki aí. Naʻe fiefia ʻa e tokotaha kotoa pē ʻo kimautolu ʻi he monuú, mo fakamālō kia Sihova, kuo mau lavaʻi ʻa e ngāué.

Ngaahi Monū Fakafiemālie Lahi

ʻI he hili ha ngaahi taʻu lahi ʻaupito, naʻá ku hokohoko atu ke fiefia ʻi he ngāue fakafaifekau taimi-kakató. Naʻe ʻi ai ʻa e taʻu ʻe 28 ʻo e vāhenga-ngāue ʻi he ngāue fakafeituʻú mo e fakavahé​—naʻe fakafiefia ʻa e ngāue kotoa ko iá. Naʻe hoko atu ʻaki ʻeni ʻa e taʻu ʻe nima ʻo hono tokangaʻi ʻa e Holo ʻAsemipilī Norval ʻi Ontario. ʻI ha ʻasemipilī fakafeituʻu ʻi he fakaʻosinga ʻo e uike kotoa pē pea pehē ki he ngaahi fakataha-lahi fakavahe lea-mulí, ko Aileen mo au naʻá ma femoʻuekina ai. ʻI he 1979/1980, ko e kau tangata tā mapé mo e kau ʻenisiniá naʻa nau ngāueʻaki ʻa e ngaahi loki naʻe fokotuʻu ʻi he Holo ʻAsemipilií ʻi heʻenau palani atu ki he vaʻa ʻo e Sōsaietí ʻi he kahaʻú ʻi Halton Hills. Hoko atu ʻi heʻemau ngāue ʻi he Holo ʻAsemipilií, ko ha vāhenga-ngāue ʻe taha naʻe iku atu ai ki he kau lahi ange ki he malaʻe ʻo e mūsiká ʻi Brooklyn, mei he 1982 ki he 1984.

Naʻe mate ʻa hoku uaifi ʻofeiná ʻi Sune 17, 1994, ko e ʻaho pē ia ʻe fitu hili ʻa e fakamanatu ʻo e taʻu hono 59 ʻo ʻema nofo malí. Naʻá ma maʻu ʻa e taʻu kakato ʻe 51 ʻo e ngāue tāimuʻa līʻoa fakatahá.

ʻI heʻeku fakakaukauloto atu ki he ngaahi meʻa lahi naʻe hokosia ʻi heʻeku moʻuí, ʻoku ou manatu ai ki he founga kuo hoko ai ʻa e Tohitapú ko ha tataki mātuʻaki maʻongoʻongá. ʻI he taimi ʻe niʻihi, ʻoku ou ngāueʻaki ai ʻa e Tohitapu tonu ʻa Aileen peá u maʻu ai ʻa e fiefia lahi ʻi hono fakatokangaʻi ʻa e meʻa naʻe maongo ki hono lotó​—ʻa e ngaahi veesi kakato, ngaahi kupuʻi lea pau, pea mo e ngaahi foʻi lea tāutaha naʻá ne fakaʻilongaʻí. Hangē ko ia ko Aileen, naʻá ku maʻu foki ʻa e ngaahi konga Tohitapu ʻokú ne ʻomai ʻa e ʻuhinga makehe kiate au. Ko e konga tohi ʻe taha ko e Sāme 137, ʻa ia ʻokú ne fakahaaʻi ʻa e lotu fakaʻofoʻofa ko ʻeni kia Sihová: “ʻOfa ke ʻoua ʻaupito te u toe malava ʻo tā haʻape kapau te u fakangaloʻi koe, ʻe Selusalema! ʻOfa ke ʻoua ʻaupito te u toe malava ke hiva kapau ʻe ʻikai te u manatuʻi koe, kapau ʻe ʻikai te u fakakaukau kiate koe ko hoku fiefiaʻanga lahi tahá!” (Sāme 137:​5, 6, Today’s English Version) Neongo ʻoku ou manako ʻi he mūsiká, ko ʻeku fiefia lahi tahá ʻoku haʻu ia mei he ngāue mateaki kia Sihová, ʻa ia kuó ne ʻosi fakapaleʻi au ʻaki ha moʻui kakato mo fakafiemālie.

[Fakamatala ʻi lalo]

[Fakatātā ʻi he peesi 28]

Fakataha mo Aileen ʻi he 1947

[Fakatātā ʻi he peesi 30]

ʻI ha kamakamata ʻo e hiki fasí